The Field Guide

When siblings Jared, Simon and Mallory Grace move to the country with their mother after their parents' divorce, they aren't sure just what to make of their new home. A rambling old Victorian mansion on a large and wooded property somewhere in Pennsylvania, the Spiderwick Estate belongs to their great-aunt Lucinda, reputed to have gone insane, and is slowly falling into disrepair. Jared, known in his family as a trouble-maker ever since he began getting into fights at school, leads his twin brother and elder sister in a series of discoveries, as they find their great-great-uncle Arthur Spiderwick's hidden library, and then his field guide to the various species of faery. It is only when the siblings actually meet a faery - Thimbletack show more the erstwhile boggart, restored to his more benevolent brownie form - that Simon and Mallory are truly convinced that Jared has been telling them the truth...

The first part of a five-volume work that is meant to be read as one long story, rather than as a series with discrete entries, The Field Guide does an excellent job of introducing readers to the three young heroes, briefly but ably capturing their differing personalities and interests. Fierce Mallory with her talent for fencing, dreamy Simon and his love of animals, and emotionally turbulent Jared, with his openness to new discoveries, all emerge as distinct and interesting characters, despite the brevity of the text. Black also succeeds in making the Spiderwick Estate feel like a real place - one the reader will want to visit and explore. A brief chapter-book for young readers just getting going with longer fiction, this is a book that will also interest older children, given the subject matter and presentation. The artwork, done in pen and ink by Tony DiTerlizzi, is just as engaging as the story, with a quirky appeal that reminded me quite a bit of the work of Chris Riddell - high praise, coming from me! Recommended to young fantasy lovers and children (or adults) who believe in faeries - just be sure to have the second volume of the story handy... show less

Enjoyed these siblings’ personalities, even though Mallory doesn’t feature that heavily in this first book, her stabby nature and unique passion for fencing already have me quite partial to her. Jared takes center stage here, he’s an easy to root for character as he’s accused of mischief he didn’t make and is determined to clear his name.

With a humor tinged plot that zips along, a very short page count, and fantastic illustrations that perfectly match the tone of the story, this is a fun read and would probably be a good fit for reluctant readers.

Even if they are marketed as children's books- this series is wildly enjoyable no matter what your age is. If you are worried about it coming off 'too young', you'd be wrong. I wish I had gotten into them when I was younger, but honestly- the magic is still there no matter the age. These books are such quick reads (Each one is under 150 pages) that you can finish the entire series in under a week. No wonder this series is such a timeless classic and a top-pick for fantasy readers. I can certainly see why this is one of the flagship titles in fiction. It feels like one of those goal-post/milestone series that every book lover should reach.
Fast-paced, written with passion, likeable characters you want to see grow and develop with along show more the way, charming creatures, and amazing art. This series is not short on a great, engaging, original plot either, filled with twists and with an ending to boot! One of the coolest/funniest ways I've seen a villain defeated! So many other titles aspire to be like The Spiderwick Chronicles. It certainly does cast some large shoes to fill.
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who has trouble reading or getting into reading, or just needs something to quickly read and be satisfied. This short series (both in length and book quantity) is popular for a reason! show less

Summary: Nine-year-old Jared Grace, his twin brother Simon, and his thirteen-year-old sister Mallory have to relocate to their great-aunt Lucinda's creepy old house after their parents' divorce. A very old book that Jared finds in the attic and the constant scuffling inside the walls suggests to them that they might not be the only inhabitants of the house, however... and whatever else is there isn't particularly friendly.

Review: I'm a couple of decades past the target audience for this series, but I was still charmed by the first book. The characters are believeable, the world is complex, and the story is delightfully creepy: I got sucked in far enough during the half-hour it took me to read this that I started jumping at random house show more noises - who knows what potentially malicious critters are all around me that I can't see? The illustrations are also lovely (and plentiful), and not only capture but help create the mood perfectly. My only issue was that it felt like the first chapter or two of a longer book and ended just as I wanted more - fortunately, I've got the next book on hand. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: I imagine young kids who are fans of authors like Lemony Snicket would get a kick out of this series as well; as an adult, it was a quick but charming read, and there are plenty of worse ways to spend half an hour. show less

I adore this series. I know that it won't affect everyone the same way, but it just happens to combine a lot of elements that are so important to me in my literary and personal world.

The story is focused on the three Grace children. Jared Grace and his family are moving to a new house, following his parent's recent divorce. This estate is a crumbling old manor, which might once have been charming but now is musty and old, and the kids aren't thrilled. The Spiderwick home belonged to some of Jared's mom's relatives, though, and has that great advantage of being free. To add to their delight, the children soon begin to suspect that something else is sharing their home with them. As he roams their new territory, searching for answers to show more the mysteries around him, Jared encounters a hidden room at the top of the house. In this room, he finds clues, and these clues lead him to a book. A very special book.

From the framework of the plot, to the set up of the characters and place, to the fulfillment of the story itself, everything worked for me with this book. All three children are well-rounded characters, with distinct personalities and separate problems. Jared has the main focus, and we learn about his anger issues and his trouble accepting his parent's divorce. I could see the things he does wrong, but still understand and sympathize with him, even when I didn't agree with his choices. Coming from a broken home myself, this theme of a family torn apart and learning how to reassemble the pieces was powerful, and handled masterfully. Black makes sure that it is as important an element as the fantasy side of the novel. In fact, Jared's family problems and his discovery of the field guide are interconnected.

Then there is the field guide. What child wouldn't want to discover a secret room in a new house, and find a book that tells you how to find and identify fairies? Okay, maybe there are some out there who wouldn't, but I know when I was a kid this would have been a dream come true. The whole premise made my toes tingle. I only had to read this first entry in the series and I was hooked. And I haven't even mentioned the art work, by Diterlizzi, which is breathtaking and perfectly suited to the stories. Whether in black or white or in color, these intricately detailed illustrations were works of art, and I only wanted more.

I even like the fact that the books were short little sagas. Yes, they all could have been combined in one novel, but I found the packaging endearing. I liked all five hard cover copies. The only down side is the cost of each novel, which was definitely too high, but I was too in love with the series to let that deter me. In my opinion, these books are well worth the price. show less

I devoured these books when I was younger. They might as well have been fused to my body because they were not just something I read, they were the only things I read. Every elementary school project was somehow made to reference these books. I even made my own field guide once (wish I REALLY wish I still had). I was glad to find, that upon reading the first book again, almost ten years later, I was just as wonderstruck as with the first read.

What is amazing about this book - and the series as a whole- is that the authors don't talk down to the reader. I recently discovered that my parents thought I was slow when in elementary school, which is comical when compared to my current stature. But the reason they thought this is because I show more was so damn stubborn that I would not do any work if I felt condescended or did not see the point. Which basically amounted to me coasting until middle school, which is when I decided I would start working, and brought back straight A's all three years. The point to that little anecdote is that these books provided me with that place to feel mature. To feel powerful and how an escape to be considered intelligent. The fantastical world is consuming. At one point I remember hiding the books in my closet at night because I was afraid the bad monsters would get me for reading them. The world the authors create is suspenseful, intriguing, and incredibly scary. They don't shy away from scaring young children, and that is a huge part of why I respected and loved (and still do) these books so much.

This first installment takes place when the Grace family moves into the home previously occupied by their great Aunt Lucinda. Lucinda is currently residing in a mental hospital, after claiming the existence of numerous magical creatures. After a series of strange occurrences, one of the Grace twins finds a field guide by Arthur Spiderwick, chronicling all he knows about the magical world around him. This book sets off a series of misfortunes and life-threatening events. Owning the book puts them in great danger, but now that they have it, there is no safe way to get rid of it.

Apart from the lovely writing style, this book is adorned with beautiful gothic style drawings. Some are full color, others are black and white, but all of them are equally gorgous. Each is taken from a specific line in the chapter, and they really add to the story experience.

If you didn't read this book as a child, you definitely should pick it up. It took me only about an hour to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. show less

I sometimes find middle grade books, and especially middle grade fantasy books, to be too episodic - this adventure happened, and then this wild chase happened, and then six more adventures, the end. The first volume of the Spiderwick Chronicles series was a pleasant surprise. The characters are realistic, the dialogue is often humorous, and despite many reviewers objections, I think the length of the story (very short) was perfect - if not necessarily for me, then for much of the target audience. Especially those in the target audience that are reluctant to read anything at all.